Traveling via South Korea with an expired US visa
I have an expired US student visa and an approved, but not stamped, US work visa (this is a totally legit situation). I am planning to travel from the US (where I currently live) to India for my visa interview for my new work visa.
Surprisingly, many European airports (Frankfurt, London) don't allow you to travel back to India in such a situation, without a transit visa. Does South Korea also have a similar policy? I am planning to transit via Incheon.
UPDATE: As I mentioned in the comments, the Korean embassy didn't really give me much guidance but I was able to make my trip successfully via Incheon.
Tl;dr If you have an expired US visa that you intend to renew, you can fly via South Korea without requiring a transit visa.
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Can I enter South Korea with US visa?
Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements For travel after September 1, 2021, you must have a valid U.S. passport and a visa or an approved Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) to enter Korea. Most U.S. passport holders traveling to Korea for tourism or business purposes for less than 90 days can obtain a K-ETA.Can I stay in Korea after my visa expires?
Visa extension can be applied starting from 4 months before the expiration date. If students stay in Korea after their visa has expired, they can be regarded as illegal immigrants and will have to pay fines to the Immigration Office. Thus, don't forget to extend the visa in advance to the expiration date.How long can an American stay in South Korea without a visa?
A U.S citizen with a valid passport can visit the Republic of Korea without a visa for 90 days for the purpose of tourism or visitation. For detailed information on a foreigner's entry without a visa, please click here. For additional visa information in English, please visit the Korea Immigration Service website.Can I travel with a valid US visa in an expired passport?
If the passport containing your visa has expired, you may continue to use the valid visa provided that your reason for travel is consistent with the classification of visa you hold, and you carry a valid passport of the same nationality as well as the passport containing the valid visa when you travel.Countries you can visit with an expired US visa
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Images: Aleksandar Pasaric, Markus Winkler, Aleksandar Pasaric, Ethan Brooke